Friday, January 20, 2012

Who was that masked man atop the Queensboro Bridge overlooking Roosevelt Island. Was it the Caped Crusader himself. The answer comes from Roosevelt Island resident Marcovalerio Melis who captured the Dark Knight in this video last November and finally reveals it to the public. (UPDATE 4:45 PM - You have to be logged into Facebook to see the video)

The next Batman movie, The Dark Knight was filming scenes on the Queensboro Bridge last November.

Fortunately, there was no need for Batman to save Roosevelt Island Tram riders as Spiderman had to once do.

After receiving this list, I learned that the requests by Roosevelt Landings Residents Association and Flannigan Chiropractic Offices were disqualified by RIOC because these applicants were not 501 C (3) or (4) organizations as required under the guidelines.

The total amount of funds available is $100 thousand.

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) has been delegated by RIOC to make recommendations to the RIOC Board for the allocation of available Public Purpose Funds. RIRA created a Public Purpose Funds Committee that will interview and evaluate the applicant organizations and then make recommendations as to how the funds get distributed to the full RIRA Common Council. Upon approval by the RIRA Common Council, the recommendations are forwarded to the RIOC Board for approval.

... I attended two of the Public Purpose Funds Sub-Committee meetings. One meeting involved the interviewing of two applicant organizations for funding. The second meeting was the actual discussion by Committee members of their reasons for and final recommendations to RIRA of allocating Public Purpose Funds to the applicant organizations. I must say that I was pleased and impressed with the diligence, thoughtfulness and hard work displayed by the Public Purpose Funds Sub-Committee in reviewing the applications and arriving at their final recommendations....

The RIRA Public Purpose Funds Committee intends to have their recommendations submitted for approval to the April 2012 RIOC Board Meeting.

The NY Times Schoolbook feature profiled New York City school principal Cheryl Tyler, a long time resident of Roosevelt Island. According to the NY Times:

When word got out in the fall that Public School 277 in the Bronx had landed on a list of schools that could be closed by the Department of Education because it had received an F on its progress report, the school’s students, parents and teachers went on a campaign to convince officials that their school had been working hard to raise achievement in the struggling neighborhood. They wrote letters. They crowded into meetings at the school auditorium. They described a school where students are engaged and teachers feel respected for their work.

In December, when they learned that school officials had decided to keep the school open, “you could hear the resounding cheer throughout the school,’’ said Cheryl Tyler, the principal. Deputy Chancellor Marc Sternberg said, “We saw the school has a motivated principal and energized staff with a vision for improving student achievement.”....

I wanted to share some exciting news. Yesterday, we reported that our campaign has raised over $600,000 to date. This gives us the most cash on hand of any prospective candidate for borough-wide office in Manhattan.

I am thrilled that we have such broad support from so many New Yorkers at such an early stage.

While there is still much work to be done between now and election day 2013, I really wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks and let you know how much your continued support means to me. I greatly appreciate all of your help.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I received a message on January 12 from a concerned Roosevelt Island resident:

about the unattended rat bait stations throughout Roosevelt Island

Image of Roosevelt Island Rat Bait Trap

reporting that:

there have been contact by 2 dogs 1 in which died, the other wound up in the emergency @ the animal medical center due to eating the Rat poison this past weekend

despite the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) being informed previously of the Rat Bait Traps not being properly secured.

On January 13 I sent the following message to RIOC's Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez:

I have heard from residents that a dog was poisoned from RIOC's use of rat traps.

Any comment?

RIOC's Press Spokesperson replied that a response is forthcoming soon. Will publish the response as soon as it is received.

Roosevelt Island resident Joyce Mincheff adds:

A dog has been poisoned

The dog is recovering but has permanent liver damage.

From the results of the dog's blood test, the Vet commented that his level was the highest she had seen in a dog that survived. It takes approximately 3 to 5 days for the poison to produce severe symptoms from the time it's ingested. The dog was bleeding throughout its organs. It had not been off the Island in over 2 weeks.

The dog weighs approximately 17 lbs. It's unlikely that a dog with less weight would have survived. That would include breeds like Chuahuahs, Yorkies, Maltese, Jack Russels, Shitzhuhs, Havanese, Min-Pins, Pomeranians, all toys.

I've spoken to RIOC about their use of rat poison and I understand that the buildings use similar devices.

It's imperative that locations where rat poison is in use should be posted. RIOC tells me that their boxes are virtually tamper-proof and locked down. It seems likely to me, that any authorized, qualified exterminator would be careful in securing the trap. As RIOC has reported doing, I'm wondering whether it's possible for the buildings to use the spring trap that catches the rat rather than poison.

I'm hoping all the building managers will:

inspect their bate boxes and make sure they're secure,

post notices to alert the public where rat poison is in use,

exchange all poison devices for spring traps.

Since we can assume that any effort made by the buildings or by RIOC would have taken place with appropriate caution, it seems more likely that the poison was maliciously put out. I would like to ask you all to pledge to a fund that will provide a reward to anyone leading to the identification and arrest of any individual who spreads poison on the grounds of the Island in an unauthorized way. I'll be making a comment in the upcoming WIRE and on the blog, and would like to include a notice of this reward.

If there is any other suggestion you have concerning this matter, please advise.

The rat bait poison traps are located at Firefighters Field, Capobianco Field and near the Octagon.

UPDATE 1/19 - Just received response from RIOC:

Last week, RIOC was alerted to a potential rat bait poisoning of a dog on the Island, which has not been substantiated. In response, we had the rodent bait stations on Roosevelt Island inspected by Urban Exterminating Services. They found that all stations were covered with locked, tamper-proof bait stations, which are State-approved.

Residents and visitors should note that tamper-proof bait stations are located throughout the Island, but rodenticide (which is included in certain of the more heavily infested stations) is placed away from where people and pets can easily access it.

However, due to lack of rodent activity, many of the stations were removed. We will now use poison-free snap traps except for in heavily infested or garbage dumping areas. All areas will continue to be inspected twice a month.

... The USA Television program White Collar will be filming on the Roosevelt Island Tram today and in the area surrounding the Roosevelt Island Tram station as well as the Roosevelt Island Bridge on Tuesday....

3 young men walked right past me, handing their drugs they were smoking to each other at 7:30 in the evening with not a care in the world. I am sick of smelling that toxic drug here all the time, shey is there no foot patrol at night on the island?

Issue ClosedThe Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department would like to hear about these types of incidents while they are occurring. Please contact us at (212) 832-4545. We are here to protect and serve 24 hours a day.
Thank you

According to the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Calls for Services/Responses Statistics for January - December 2011 there were 17 incidents involving the category of Possible Illegal Substances on Roosevelt Island. Also, according to the Public Safety Department's Index Crime report, during 2011 there were 6 Incidents of Grand Larceny, 1 Grand Larceny Auto, 15 Assaults, 17 Burglaries and 6 Robberies here. There were no rapes or murders.

Below is the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Monthly Incident Blotter for December 2011. The Monthly Blotter Reports are a bit more detailed than the Daily Public Safety Reports included every day and archived on the middle sidebar column but they report on incidents 4- 8 weeks old. Included in the December Blotter are these incidents:

JUVENILE RELATED (INCIDENTS)
12/13/2011 566 Main St NYPD ARREST Male student threatened staff with a gun and fled the scene. Male was apprehended by NYPD and taken into custody. Parents notified and on scene,

12/16/2011 R/O 415 Main St Con Edison on scene for an electrical issue. Upon arrival area was cautioned off while work was taking place,

12/5/2011 Opp 688 Main St Male was observed taking pictures of the bridge at location. Male is a photography student and working on a project. Male was granted permission and R/O obtained identification,

12/16/2011 F/O 888 Main St Passenger complained bus did not pull ramp down for wheelchair access. Passenger was advised bus did not have a working ramp and another bus followed to pick up passenge,

12/18/2011 R/O 510 Main St Burning grill left unattended at location. R/O extinguished the coals and tenant came on scene. Tenant was advised use of grills are prohibited. Tenant complied,

POSSIBLE ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE
12/6/2011 580 Main St Smell of marijuana observed at location. Search of area for subjects yielded negative results.
12/9/2011 546 Main St Smell of marijuana observed at location. Search of area for subjects yielded negative result,

TRESPASS
12/11/2011 59th St Bridge Boat Dock. Two males observed fishing at location. Both males were escorted from the location, warned and admonished,

12/2/2011 R/O 500 Main St ARREST Three male subjects observed with open containers. All subjects were under drinking age and taken into custody. Parents were notified, summonses issued and subjects released to the custody of their parents.
12/3/2011 R/O 500 Main St ARREST Underage male observed at location with an open container. Subject was taken into custody, issued summons and released.,

12/9/2011 R/O 645 Main St ARREST Two subjects found in possession of illegal substance. Subjects taken into custody and transported to 114 Pct. For arrest processing.
12/10/2011 Opp 40 River Rd ARREST Male subject observed in possession of illegal substance. Subject taken into custody and transported to the 114 Pct. For arrest processing,

12/17/2011 F/O 510 Main St ARREST Male subject observed in possession of illegal substance. Subject taken into custody. Upon search subject possessed a straight razor blade. Upon investigation subject had an open warrant for his arrest. Subject taken to 114 Pct for arrest processing,

12/21/2011 686 Main St ARREST Two victims advised they were defrauded by male subject for money. Subject was positively identified and taken into custody. Subject confessed and was processed at Manhattan Central Booking for arrest processing and

ROBBERY
12/5/2011 580 Main St Victim advised two unknown males took his Iphone and fled the scene. Search of area for subjects yielded negative results. NYPD notified

JUVENILE RELATED (INCIDENTS)
12/13/2011 566 Main St NYPD ARREST Male student threatened staff with a gun and fled the scene. Male was apprehended by NYPD and taken into custody. Parents notified and on scene,

It is unclear why the incident is describes as Juvenile Related since the student was 18 years old according to RIOC. Also, if there was no gun present during this incident, why won't RIOC just say so and put the matter to rest? What is different about this Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident that RIOC will not comment whether a gun was involved?

Monday, January 16, 2012

Received the following advisory from Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) on winter closing of rooftop parking level at Motorgate Garage:

Image of Motorgate Parking Garage Rooftop Level

Winter Closure of Garage

In an effort to maximize safety and reduce wear and tear on the roof of the garage, the roof will be closed again this winter. Your requirement to park on the roof has been eliminated and you may park in any unreserved space elsewhere in the garage from now until April 1, 2012 or as otherwise advised. The roof will be fully closed effective 10AM on Tuesday, January 17th, so we request your cooperation in moving any vehicles before then. Existing rooftop accounts will, of course, continue to be charged the rooftop rate while the roof is closed.

We appreciate your cooperation with this safety measure and your attention to the barriers that will be placed at the entrance gate. Cars found violating this restriction are subject to towing and/or revocation of monthly parking privileges.

...An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself. This is difference made legal. By the same token, a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself. This is sameness made legal.

Let me give another explanation. A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state's segregation laws was democratically elected? Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered. Can any law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured?

Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in it's application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest....

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin was interviewed by CUNY TV's Eldridge & Co recently on issues facing her district which includes not only Roosevelt Island but the Upper East Side. Ms. Lappin discussed issues of ageing, FDR Memorial at Southpoint Park, the Cornell Roosevelt Island Engineering School, Second Avenue Subway, NYC City Council Term Limits plus much more.

Also, Ms. Lappin noted that Cornell will be holding a Town Hall Meeting regarding their new Roosevelt Island campus in the near future.

Capital New York reports that Ms. Lappin may be a candidate for Manhattan Borough President next year:

... Menin is hoping to replace Scott Stringer, who is leaving the borough president's post to run for mayor next year. The rest of the field has yet to take shape, but other possible candidates include City Councilman Robert Jackson of Harlem and City Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, from Manhattan's East Side....

UPDATE 1/19 - Ms. Lappin announces her campaign has raised more than $600,000 for a possible Manhattan Borough President run. More here.

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WELCOME TO ROOSEVELT ISLAND

Welcome to the Roosevelt Islander Online!

Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.

The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.